Learn more about the O’Neill in South Africa program

2025 dates coming soon!

For reference, 2024 program dates were: July 28 - August 10, 2024

E482/V482/E582/V582 - Wildlife Conservation: A Case Study in Environmental Management (3cr.)

Program Director: Glen Salmon

This three-credit hour program will focus on wildlife as a case study of South Africa's most high profile and precious resources. Students will observe management philosophies different from those practiced in the US, and will also learn about how culture and post-apartheid policies have influenced these efforts.

After attending three academic sessions and one orientation session stateside, you will travel to approximately 10 natural areas in South Africa and Swaziland, both public and private, over a 14 day period. Through these visits you will learn about techniques, such as how a safe game capture can be made, research, such as bio-monitoring in Kruger National Park, challenges, such as poaching and politics, policy, such as the concept of private game ownership, sustainability, such as establishment of protected areas, and the impacts of ecotourism and the commercialization of national parks. Topics such as working alongside the communtity, funding, and general management practices will also be covered.

IU Bloomington Undergrads: See how this course counts towards your major/minor at O'Neill here.

  • A close (but not too close) view of creatures in their natural environment including elephants, lions, hippos, giraffes, monkeys, and more
  • Snorkeling in the Indian Ocean at Sodwana Marine Protected Area
  • Stops at Kruger National Park and others as well as privately owned game reserves for a look at the public and private side of environmental management
  • A local dinner and interaction with indigenous people
  • A day in the bush tracking wildlife; possible game capture
  • A day of bio-monitoring for reptiles and birds
  • Viewing impacts of poaching, over-commercialization, etc.

All food, lodging, ground transportation, and park entry fees will be provided. You will be on the move staying in double occupancy rooms at B&Bs, lodges, and cabins. Two nights will be spent in tents in “the bush.” You will take turns at cooking and clean up and occasional local meals and restaurant meals will be provided.

All O’Neill International programs are academic, credit-bearing courses that take place abroad. As such, your bursar will be charged two amounts for participation in this program:

  1. Program Fee for O’Neill in South Africa (made in two payments)
  2. Tuition for the course (3 credits at your normal IU-Bloomington tuition rate)

2025 Program Fee: Will be finalized by November 1

For reference, the 2024 O'Neill in South Africa Program Fee was: $3,600

The Program Fee for this program includes:

  • Lodging for 2 weeks in South Africa
  • Site visits and guest speakers
  • Cultural excursions
  • All meals
  • International health insurance

The Program Fee will be charged to your IU Bloomington Bursar account in two installments:

  1. A $550 non-refundable pre-payment will be charged shortly after you confirm your participation in the program
  2. The remaining balance will be charged in March prior to departure

Tuition: 3 credits paid at your IU-Bloomington tuition rate 

Students will pay for 3 credit hours of tuition based on their student status (resident/non-resident, graduate/undergraduate, etc.) on the Bloomington campus.

Additional Costs

Students will pay for their own flight to and from South Africa, and other personal incidentals. 

For a full breakdown of estimated cost, see the South Africa fee sheet.

Scholarships

The O’Neill International Office offers several scholarships to support students studying abroad. The O’Neill International Equal Opportunity Scholarship is a need-based award available to help O'Neill students from IUB and IUI to be able to study abroad. Please visit our scholarship page for eligibility requirements and application deadlines. Other need and merit-based scholarships are available on a competitive basis. Students are encouraged to apply widely to all scholarships they are eligible for. Please email us at oio@iu.edu if you want help navigating different funding resources.

Both undergraduate and graduate students in good standing are eligible to apply for admission. Ideal candidates should have a GPA of approximately 3.0 but all applicants in good standing will be considered. The course is open to students from any related IU department.

 

During the application period (November 1 - December 1) an "Apply Now" button will be available at the top of this page. You will need to submit the online application by 11:59pm on December 1. 

Please review our detailed application instructions!

If you have any issues or questions throughout the application process, contact us via email: oio@iu.edu

Studying abroad is critical to just rounding yourself out as a person.

—Lester Wadzinski, O’Neill in South Africa program director